Searles Lake Gem &
Mineral Society

Collecting Pink Halite

Tools for collecting pink halite
1.  A strong digging tool like a spud bar
2.  A pick
3.  Hammer and chisel
5.  Sacrifical clothes and shoes
6.  Gloves to protect hands (recomended)


 Salt BarCollector using bar
A pick can also be used


 A pick was used
Collecting in brine poolsA brine pool
Stackable boxes for your specimens
1.  Fruit or vegetable boxes from markets
protect your salt wheb stacked deep.
      Fruit flats for halite

Don't Stop Here, Read On!!!!

MINERAL COLLECTING ON SEARLES DRY LAKE, CALIFORNIA
by
Jim Fairchild - Searles Lake Gem & Mineral Society

On the Pink Halite field trip you will collect the beautiful Searles Dry Lake pink halite. This will be the only mineral available on this trip. The best specimens are usually found on the underside of overhanging ledges beneath the surface of open brine pools. The best ledges are usually in the deeper pools. To collect your specimens you will have to be able to chop off the ledge. Since most ledge material is tough and hard, heavy digging tools such as pick, a heavy steel bar or a sledge hammer and chisell may be necessary. Since the brine pool may be up to 1-2 feet deep, you may want a partner to catch the specimen once it has been chopped off so that it does not get lost. 

All Searles Dry Lake pink halite you collect will dissolve easily and quickly in water. Afterrall, it isonly salt. Therefore, DO NOT WASH YOUR PINK HALITE IN WATER, it will disappear! 



Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society
P. O. Box 966
Trona, CA 93592-0966
Phone (760) 372-5356

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